Welcome

Welcome to the POZ/AIDSmeds Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and
others concerned about HIV/AIDS. Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the
conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page.

Privacy Warning: Please realize that these forums are open to all, and are fully searchable via Google and other search engines. If you are HIV positive
and disclose this in our forums, then it is almost the same thing as telling the whole world (or at least the World Wide Web). If this concerns you, then do not use a
username or avatar that are self-identifying in any way. We do not allow the deletion of anything you post in these forums, so think before you post.

The information shared in these forums, by moderators and members, is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between an individual and his/her own
physician.

All members of these forums are, by default, not considered to be licensed medical providers. If otherwise, users must clearly define themselves as such.

Forums members must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Posting guidelines, including time-out and banning policies, have been established by the moderators
of these forums. Click here for “Am I Infected?” posting guidelines. Click here for posting guidelines pertaining to all other POZ/AIDSmeds community forums.

We ask all forums members to provide references for health/medical/scientific information they provide, when it is not a personal experience being discussed. Please
provide hyperlinks with full URLs or full citations of published works not available via the Internet. Additionally, all forums members must post information which are
true and correct to their knowledge.

as i am learning more about being hiv+, i'm beginning to realize a healthy diet/exercise is important. here is where i have a problem...i eat crappy processed food, a lot of bad for me sugars, sodas with caffeine, i drink alcohol occasionally and i really don't exercise much.

how do i begin to change my mind set? what are some of the things you have done to help change your lifestyle? take a cooking class? join yoga? get a new cookbook? any advice would be welcomed.

don't try to change everything at once. concentrate on something that you know is a problem and fix it. One change at a time For example, if you think that eating crappy processed food is your main problem, then focus on it. If it's alcohol then focus on it. Don't try to fix the crappy food and the alcohol at the same time!

How do you begin? A cooking class is a fucking great way to begin, I'm glad you mention it. You'll be surprised Yoga is good too, I don't have experience with it tho, but I hear it's good.

hi, as for me i started by saying no to my two biggest lovers: Mc Donnalds and Burguer king. Then i stopped a bit my addiction to Mayonnaise (eventhough i fall once or twice every two weeks). And that's it, as for the rest i try to eat what pleases me. And sleep as much as my body request

I agree with milker one can't expect to change all at once, take it slowly kisses

Your attitude is positive, and the right approach to your new situation. It's all about how you live...the funny thing is it always was.

Well, find some exercise you like well enough, exercise vigorously, and just don't drink any more than you do now.

Replace sodas with juices will help as much as junk with fresh, and unrefined foods. Buy fancy whole grain cereals, low on sugar, and find healthy good tasting food you can crave. Try visiting a big health food market, like Whole Foods, to get ideas. I go to Trader Joes (cheaper). If you have the money shop at these places regularly. I buy frozen soy as a desert treat (I actually like it). After a few months, just the smell of McDonald's grease will make your stomach turn. By the way, I don't think healthy eating is a substitute for good medical care, but it will improve your outlook on life, your appearance, and can't hurt your immunity. More than 16 years after seroconversion, I do anything physical I wish. And I have no plans to cut caffeine from my diet----#%@&#@ NO! It's a great way to live POZ. Good luck!

after my visit to the doctor today I had a double whopper cheese, large

You will adapt. I go from double whopper cheese to fish & salad. It's the overall balance and trend towards a better diet that is important. Overall my diet is I think pretty good. I just need to get my fat ass to the gym.

yum...a double whopper with cheese. i could go for one of those right about now. i'm down to 102 pounds...i'm thinking a few cheese burgers might do me some good. no gym for me - just a brisk walk to the park.

i here you on the adaptation...some days is salad and strawberries--but days like today, it's all about shitty food. and boy was it good!

but yea diet is hard for many of us sometimes its just the fact that the day goes by so fast and you have to eat somewhere so you dont pick the best options....

Diet and exercise are very important for anyones health but when you first start its REALLY hard to pick the baked skinless chicken over FRIED chicken....You have grown accustomed to eating things and thats what you crave. Take it one step at a time. I wouldnt overdo the juices though because it is pure sugar (but better sugar than soda) so in the end it will cause you to have the same blood sugar swings as sodas do. Water or tea (unsweetened) is your best bet....

Mayb u need to ask urself how eager u are to live ..... nutrition and your health goes hand in hand ... I know that I aint perfekt but I try .... I understand that I mst help my body fight this thing cuz I aint dying anytime soon ! I suggest u take it one step at a time - start with introducing veggies and fruits to your diet , also cutting down on your alc intake .....

I think we are here for you for moral support - CAN I GET AN AMEN !!!!

I did a major Trader Joe's run yesterday on my way home from the dentist. I'd go more often but it's in an area of downtown that I don't often go to. Still, I think I may start to make more of an effort to go there... definitely more reasonably priced than Whole Foods which I can walk to from my place.

I used to like Taco Bell a lot when I was neg but now I don't eat it. I found a lentil product in a health food store and it tastes exactly like Taco Bell refried beans. I was amazed. The ingredients list was not ultra-repulsive and all scientific-sounding either. Which reminds me, I gotta buy more, and maybe some wraps too. My point is, there are alternatives you can buy that you can learn to love, just have an open mind, etc. For example, some brands of veg burgers are more than satisfying.

as i am learning more about being hiv+, i'm beginning to realize a healthy diet/exercise is important. here is where i have a problem...i eat crappy processed food, a lot of bad for me sugars, sodas with caffeine, i drink alcohol occasionally and i really don't exercise much.

how do i begin to change my mind set? what are some of the things you have done to help change your lifestyle? take a cooking class? join yoga? get a new cookbook? any advice would be welcomed.

I try to be reasonable with this health mayhem. I've never been a total junk food fanatic but if I feel like having a cheeseburger at Wendy's once a month I don't feel guilty. I'm the appropriate weight for my height so I guess that's part of it, plus I eat healthy routinely at home. Of course, if I want a REALLY good cheeseburger I make it myself at home

Taco Bell is just plain nasty though. I'm sure I've read somewhere that the average calorie amounts for their dishes are something like four times the amount of a Big Mac.

Not mine either. I still swear by seal-a-meal as I can make and save lots of good meals which keeps me out of the kitchen. Good nutrition is all about making one good choice at a time and pre-planning so that you can avoid fast-foods and poor choices. The biggest problem I have had is that I've concentrated on being sure to eat "healthy" so much that I'm getting fat. So, my next task - diet and exercise.

I had a big-ass shrimp salad (big grilled shrimp on top of salad) with this really good spicy tomato dressing. It was probably loaded with fat and cholesterol, but I ate all of the romaine lettuce which is supposed to be garnish.

as i am learning more about being hiv+, i'm beginning to realize a healthy diet/exercise is important. here is where i have a problem...i eat crappy processed food, a lot of bad for me sugars, sodas with caffeine, i drink alcohol occasionally and i really don't exercise much.

how do i begin to change my mind set? what are some of the things you have done to help change your lifestyle? take a cooking class? join yoga? get a new cookbook? any advice would be welcomed.

thanks for the help...

It's tough to change old habits. Especially when it comes to eating. As a kid growing up, we never had the processed food in our house. Never had the junk food or the cola's. The processed food may tempararily give you that "good feeling" but an hour later, it'll drain ya !

Perhaps the first thing you need to do is read this link from the nutrition section. Perhaps you can get some tips.

I remember when I was diagnosed a Celiac, my diet changed drastically overnight. It was no fun.

I cannot eat things that contain wheat, oats, barley or rye. Believe me, that is a lot of stuff.

At first, it was terrible. I lost a lot of weight and looked pretty bad. But it got better.

Were I you, I would try changing one thing at a time. How about looking at one meal like breakfast?

Rather than an eggmcwhatever, how about a bowl of whole-grain cereal? You could use regular or reduced-fat milk or, if you really want to go whole hog, try soy milk. I recommend Silk brand, preferably with vanilla. It really is good.

This was just a suggestion, but you get the idea. Don't try to reinvent your eating habits all at once. It is a real pain in the backside.

Try starting small, like one meal at a time.

Glad you're taking walks too. That is a great way to get some exercise.

today i started out with a bowl of cheerios (i added my own sugar) with 1% milk. not bad, huh? then, i had a delicious southwest chicken wrap...with no sour cream (which i love). tonight, i fell apart a little and went straight for the mcdonald's fries with ranch dressing and ketchup. i think it's taking it's toll though...and not that i really want to announce this to the world but, this morning when i woke up i had horrible diarrhea. totally didn't see it coming. no bad stomach cramps or anything, but whatever was in me came right on out. is this the hiv? or just a bout of diarrhea that will pass?

today i started out with a bowl of cheerios (i added my own sugar) with 1% milk. not bad, huh?

I like my cheerios !! also my Rice Krispies, and wheeties, with skim milk ! Three slices of whole wheat toast, with the healthy spread --( that taste like butter) Glass of apple juice. and finally an 8 ounce bottle of the high protein Boost.( lactose free) Maybe a small container of yogurt.

don't try to change everything at once. concentrate on something that you know is a problem and fix it. One change at a time For example, if you think that eating crappy processed food is your main problem, then focus on it. If it's alcohol then focus on it. Don't try to fix the crappy food and the alcohol at the same time!

Breakfast is the easiest meal to change. Oatmeal, yogurt, fruit, cereal, toast .... it is all good. However, I like real butter on my toast, I figure it is better for me than all those chemicals in the other stuff. Plus, I have found I use less butter if I use the real stuff. A bowl of decent cereal (like total, or something) with skim milk, oj, wheat toast and yogurt is the perfect start to the day. Once a week though have a treat and get some french toast or mcdonalds.....moderation is the key.

I don't know your height, build, etc. but earlier you said you weigh 102 lbs.

Later you beat yourself up for adding cream and some sugar to a kind of tasty sounding chicken dish.

Because I don't really know your situation, I could be completely off base, and talking through my hat. Unless your cholesterol numbers are really high (and some people have that problem with the PI drugs), those extra calories in the cream and sugar might help you.

Several fast food meals a day is probably a bad idea. While they have the extra calories it sounds like you might need, they are somewhat lacking in nutritional value. Since you said your kind of addicted to them, maybe try to limit them to one a day. Build up to one ever second day.

With your cheerios you used 1% milk. Perhaps you might step that up to Whole Milk (3%, Homo [not a gay thing - they used to call Homogenized milk that here]) or whatever they call it where you live. Maybe even cereal cream.

If your appetite is good, maybe throw in some mid-day/mid-evening snacks of a banana, apple, orange, or some grapes.

My mom was a dietician, so I grew up with the Canada Food Guide tattooed to the inside of my eyelids. Despite that, I'm certainly not perfect. My morning at work caffeine comes in a cold, sweet, bubbly form, to which I'm addicted. (I'm thourghly convinced that the entire micro-computer revolution would not have happened without Coke, Pepsi, RC, and Jolt Cola)

If on the wrong track - ignore me. It's just that your weight raised a red flag for me.

I don't know your height, build, etc. but earlier you said you weigh 102 lbs.

Later you beat yourself up for adding cream and some sugar to a kind of tasty sounding chicken dish.

Because I don't really know your situation, I could be completely off base, and talking through my hat. Unless your cholesterol numbers are really high (and some people have that problem with the PI drugs), those extra calories in the cream and sugar might help you.

Several fast food meals a day is probably a bad idea. While they have the extra calories it sounds like you might need, they are somewhat lacking in nutritional value. Since you said your kind of addicted to them, maybe try to limit them to one a day. Build up to one ever second day.

With your cheerios you used 1% milk. Perhaps you might step that up to Whole Milk (3%, Homo [not a gay thing - they used to call Homogenized milk that here]) or whatever they call it where you live. Maybe even cereal cream.

If your appetite is good, maybe throw in some mid-day/mid-evening snacks of a banana, apple, orange, or some grapes.

My mom was a dietician, so I grew up with the Canada Food Guide tattooed to the inside of my eyelids. Despite that, I'm certainly not perfect. My morning at work caffeine comes in a cold, sweet, bubbly form, to which I'm addicted. (I'm thourghly convinced that the entire micro-computer revolution would not have happened without Coke, Pepsi, RC, and Jolt Cola)

If on the wrong track - ignore me. It's just that your weight raised a red flag for me.

hi lt...a little background: i'm 5'3" and quite petite - but 100 pounds is not enough...so you're right, the calories might do me some good. i just don't want to over do the cream/sugar and fast food diet and gain all of the wrong kind of weight. i should really eat the fruits/veggies/proteins that will help me gain the proper weight. but my issue is figuring out how to cook it so it is tasty.

i certainly don't want to add any other form of troubles to my already less than stellar condition...and i know when a person doesn't weigh a proper amount or get the proper nutrition, things can go downhill from there. so, no - you're not off base here at all. you've probably hit the nail on the head exactly.